Neighbor Appreciation Day, Feb. 13 found Seattle City Councilmember Lisa Herbold (and her two grandchildren) joining the Nature Consortium and 20 volunteers in a planting, restoration effort near Pathfinder K-8 School.

The area of the Duwamish Greenbelt, the largest contiguous area of undeveloped land in the City of Seattle has been home to power installations, military installations and much more over the years but as the Nature Consortium explained the number of conifer trees in the area has declined as deciduous trees like Alder and Poplar took hold. Those trees have a life span of 70 to 80 years and those species in that area are nearing that age. Conifers would normally take over but in this case, they need some help.

The volunteers planted Douglas fir trees, ferns and Bald Hip Roses in the area south of the school that has already had restoration efforts applied. Invasive species like Himalayan Blackberry have been dug up, monitored for regrowth and gathered in large piles on site.

Douglas Firs are fast growing for conifers and within 15 to 20 years the area will be a forested grove of trees providing a canopy. Douglas Firs have a lifespan of between 500 and 1000 years.